It was held Governor Thomas Johnson High School During The Summer.
Students attending the News Horizons Academy undergo mock interviews from volunteers
(Photo from SHIPz)
Frederick, Md (KM) 72 students experiencing homelessness were recognized last week for the completion of the New Horizons Academy. The five-week program was held at Governor Thomas Johnson High School and worked with students from all over the county.
It’s run by the Student Homelessness Initiative Partnership (SHIP) and the Frederick County Public School System. “It offers an opportunity to students experiencing homelessness who are in high school to make up credits that they missed throughout the year, or to get ahead on a credit,” says Melissa Muntz, the Executive Director of SHIP.
But Muntz says it’s more than academics. “While they’re in the program, they’re getting life skills instruction. They’re learning things like financial literacy. They’re learning health and wellness skills. They’re leaning things that will help them in their everyday life,” she says. “They’re learning to build capacity so when they launch and they leave high school, they’re hopefully no longer in need of services like ours because they’re advancing on their own.”
Those 72 students completed the New Horizons Academy on Thursday, July 24th.
Muntz says these students come from all over the county, not just Frederick city. “So it’s pulling students from Brunswick; from Catoctin; from places where they would have fewer access to resources in the summer, and bringing them into one central place where they’re surrounded by peers,” she says.
The academic classes are taught by teachers in the Frederick County Public School System. There are also councilors and case management personnel on hand. “This summer, we brought in staff from the Mental Health Association to work through areas specific to their training,” says Muntz.
“We bring in staff from the library to work with students on skill specific to their training,” Muntz continues. “So we really want to make sure that we’re utilizing those community resources,–not re-inviting the wheel–but making sure students have access to everything they need from the source.”
SHIP says students attending the New Horizons Academy receive credit for the courses they need to graduate, and are provided a $600 stipend for completing the program.. That eliminates the choice some students have to either work or finish high school. All students graduating from the program receive a $4,000 scholarship to Hood College. This program is open to all students experiencing homelessness in Frederick County.
Those who do not graduate from high school are 3.5 times more likely to experience homelessness as adults, says SHIP..
Muntz says the New Horizons Academy will return next year for students experiencing homelessness.
The US Department of Education says there are over 1.5 million public school students nationwide who experience homelessness every year. SHIP says as of July, 2025, over 1,000 youths who are experiencing homelessness attend Frederick County Public Schools.
By Kevin McManus